School Nutrition

Americans love food demons and our newest one is wheat. The top-selling diet book of the moment is Wheat Belly, in which a Wisconsin-based cardiologist blames the humble grain for everything from dandruff to dementia. Author Dr. William Davis advises never letting the stuff cross your mouth; the inclusion of healthy whole grains at the top of the USDA’s food pyramid is “among the biggest health blunders ever made in the history of nutritional advice,” he writes.Read more

Folic acid, a B vitamin, is a big deal and this week is National Folic Acid Awareness Week. Not only can folic acid and folate containing foods help prevent devastating birth defects but they may also help protect against heart disease, and colon, cervical and breast cancers. Preliminary research also indicates a connection between adequate folic acid intake and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease as well as Parkinson’s disease.Read more

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has announced increased flexibility for School Food Authorities (SFA) to plan grain servings as a part of healthy breakfast and lunch menus for America’s school children. Read more

Holiday meal preparations tend to focus on the main dish and desserts, but side dishes play an important supporting role. To make sure your holiday meal boasts an all-star cast, try your hand at some homemade dressing this year. It’s easy and will give your main dish some real pizzazz – whether you’re serving poultry, beef, pork or even vegetarian.Read more

By Thomas K. McInerny, M.D., president, American Academy of Pediatrics

11/19/2012

Our children eat at least half of their daily calories at school. School meals can play an important role in introducing children to healthy food options, encouraging children to make healthier food choices and ensuring proper portion sizes. In 2010, a federal law called the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act set new school meals standards, and children are now seeing more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on their cafeteria trays.Read more

The Wheat Foods Council wants to help clear up the confusion and set the record straight for sound nutrition science on losing weight – and keeping it off – in combination with ways to eat healthfully. We’re launching our “Busting Fad Diets” Campaign, just in time for the holidays and New Year’s health resolutions. Click here

One of the liveliest sessions at last week’s Whole Grains on Every Plate conference in San Antonio was a myth-busting presentation from Pamela Cureton, clinical research dietitian at the Center for Celiac Research.

The Whole Grain stamp now features on more than 7,600 products in 35 countries, while the number of new products featuring whole grain claims rose from 164 in 2000 to 3,378 in 2011, according to data unveiled at the Whole Grains on Every Plate conference yesterday.Read more